Ferdinand von Mueller

1

The Memorial is undated but is accompanied in the file by a covering letter dated 13 July 1863 from one of the signatories, T. Lightfoot, who had been entrusted with the task of presenting it to the Chief Secretary. Lightfoot concluded his letter: 'I would beg to add, that I have used the road now shut up, for twelve years, and that the one substituted will be impassible in the wet weather'.

Memorial Praying for the retention and improvement of the old direct thoroughfares through the Botanical Reserves South Yarra

To the Honorable

The Chief Secretary

of Victoria

The memorial of the residents in South Yarra, Toorak and Prahran and others whose signatures are appended hereto, respectfully sheweth,

That your memorialists observe with regret that it is proposed to close the direct thoroughfares leading from Park Street and Millswyn Street, South Yarra, by way of the turnstile lately standing between the Museum and the Curators residence, through the Botanical Reserves to Melbourne

That the thoroughfares referred to have for many years been used by your memorialists and a large number of other persons, averaging at least one thousand daily, in preference to any other route because they were considerably more direct and consequently shorter; that the closing of them will necessarily cause a loss of time to each of the individuals who habitually traverse them, while no apparent corresponding advantages can accrue therefrom to any other persons or establishment.

That your memorialists are desirous that the paths in question should be properly made, and planted on each side with ornamental trees, and your memorialists fully believe that if this were done the paths would add a pleasing feature to the reserves, they would afford all the accommodation which pedestrians require, and in so doing, they would save the reserves from that disfigurement by unsightly tracks, which has already resulted and may be expected to continue to result from leaving so large a traffic either insufficiently or inappropriately provided for.

And your memorialists trust that you will accord to these views as herein set forth your favorable consideration and influential support, and your memorialists as in duty bound, will ever pray &c &c &c

2

The Memorial is followed by three pages of signatures with accompanying addresses, 74 signatures in all. On 14 July, McCulloch minuted: 'Acknowledge receipt and state that enquiries will be made on the subject | Request Dr Mueller to wait on me'. The next day, the Under Secretary, J. Moore, referred the document to M 'for report'. For M's response, see M to J. McCulloch, 18 July 1863.